Camouflage in the Leaf Litter

Find the frog. In this picture it sits among wet autumn leaves at the edge of a pond, and its green and brown blotches break up its outline so well that the eye slides right past it.

Disruptive colouring

Many frogs rely on disruptive patterns: irregular patches of colour that interrupt the shape of the body, so predators don't recognise the animal as a single object. On a background of leaf litter, twigs and mud, the strategy works remarkably well.

A frog's autumn

As days shorten and water temperatures drop, frogs become less active. Many water frogs eventually spend the winter at the bottom of ponds or buried in soft mud, while others shelter on land under leaves, logs or stones. Before that, the pond edge and its leaf litter are a useful place to rest and pick off the last insects of the year.

Looking for the eye

When photographing a camouflaged animal, the eye is the anchor. Focus there, and the rest of the frog emerges from the leaves as the viewer looks closer.